Mathematics Department

Welcome to the Mathematics department at Churchdown School.

Being able to understand and use mathematics is a fundamental life skill and it is the aim of the Mathematics department at Churchdown is to prepare pupils not only for examination success but to also be prepared to solve mathematical problems as they may be encountered in everyday life.

We aim to strive for excellence and to make sure that every effort is made to ensure that each and every pupil at Churchdown achieves his or her potential.

It is differentiated in to three levels of challenge; Pi, Theta and Delta.

These are in turn divided in to three levels depending on year group, so In year 7 pupils will study either Pi 1, Theta 1 or Delta 1. In year 8 pupils will study either Pi 2, Theta 2 or Delta 2. In year 9 pupils will study from either Pi 3, Theta 3 or Delta 3.

Each course is divided in to 10 units at the end of which are end of unit assessments that pupils complete in order to monitor progress. In addition to these assessments there are also assessments completed half way through the Autumn term, at the end of the Autumn term, half way though the Spring term, at the end of the Spring term, half way through the Summer term and at the end of the year. For year 9 pupils there is a baseline assessment completed at the end of the year in order to aid setting for the GCSE course beginning in year 10.

Churchdown currently follows the courses provided by Edexcel. From September 2017, the A-Level specification for Maths and Further Maths will be changing. Details of the specification are yet to be released by the exam board.

Current Course Details

A-Level Maths and Further Maths are divided in to different areas;

-Core (C)

-Mechanics (M)

-Statistics (S)

-Further Pure Mathematics (FP)

-Decision Mathematics (D)

Each of these areas is divided in to units. Some units are compulsory and others are optional. For A-Level Maths a total of 6 units are studied.

Student electing to study Further Maths must also be studying A-Level Maths. The Further Maths qualification comprises of a total of 12 units, 6 from A-Level Maths and 6 from Further Maths.

Students in years 9, 10 and 6th Form are entered in for the U. K. Mathematical Challenge at Junior, Intermediate and Senior Levels as well as the regional Team Maths Challenges.

A Maths Club runs on Thursdays after school, this has included a wide range of mathematical problem solving such as code breaking.

Trips

In previous years there have been trips such as:

Year 7 visit to Symmonds Yat Hedge Maze

6th Trips to Maths Lectures in Cardiff and the University of Warwick

Yr 10 trip to Participate in the Further Maths Support Programme at Balcarras School

Next steps or Where the subject leads

Studying mathematics helps you to develop a wide range of analytical, research and problem solving skills. The study of mathematics will help give you the knowledge needed to scientific, mechanical and abstract problems.

Maths is a skill that can be applied to a very wide range of careers. People with maths related qualifications often go in to jobs such as: